176 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [470] 



In the New Haven markets the round clams retail at $2 to $3 per bushel 

 for the small ones, and $1 to $2 per bushel for the large ones. 



The common muscle, Mytilus edulis, (p. 307, Plate XXXI, fig. 234,) is 

 also extremely abundant on the muddy bottoms, forming immense beds 

 in many places. It is taken in vast quantities for fertilizing the land, 

 but is seldom used as food on our coast, although it is used extensively 

 in some parts of Europe. 



The muddy bottoms of the estuaries, ponds, and harbors, especially 

 when composed largely of organic matter in a living state, afford the 

 best localities for &quot;planting&quot; oysters, and they are extensively utilized 

 for this purpose. The oysters thus planted are mostly brought from 

 farther south, but young &quot; natives&quot; are also transplanted on a large 

 scale in some localities. 



It is, however, very certain that the oysters did not originally grow 

 on muddy bottoms, for the young cannot maintain themselves during 

 early life unless attached to some solid substance. 



Therefore, where large oyster-beds have been planted, the bottom 

 should no longer be classed as &quot;muddy,&quot; but rather as a &quot; shelly bot 

 tom,&quot; for a large number of animals, in addition to those of true muddy 

 bottoms, live among or attached to the oysters. 



Along the peaty and clayey banks, especially where undermined by 

 the waves, even nearly up to high-water mark, the Petricola plioladi- 

 formis (p. 372, Plate XXVI, fig. 199,) and Pholas truncata, (Plate XXVII, 

 fig. 200,) are often found in their deep burrows in considerable numbers. 

 The Tacjelus gibba (Plate XXVI, fig. 181, and Plate XXX, fig. 217,) 

 burrows at and below low- water mark on the muddy and argillaceous 

 shores of the estuaries, as well as on the shores of the bays. On muddy 

 bottoms, toward the outer parts of the estuaries and harbors, the 

 Mul mia later alls (Plate XXVI, fig. 184, B) often occurs in great abun 

 dance. And in similar places, even where the bottom consists largely of 

 decaying vegetable matter, the Tellina tenta (Plate XXX, fig. 225) and 

 Solenomya velum (Plate XXIX, fig. 210) are sometimes found in consid 

 erable numbers. The Callista convexa (Plate XXX, fig. 219) also occurs 

 in similar places. 



The Ascidians, Bryozoa, and Eadiata are almost entirely wanting on 

 the muddy shores and bottoms of estuaries, unless in localities where 

 eel-grass or oyster-beds afford them suitable stations ; but such localities 

 will be discussed farther on. 



List of species -inhabiting the muddy shores and bottoms of brackish waters. 



ARTICTJLATA. 



Insects. 



Page. 



Cicindela inarginata ....... 335 



Hydrophilus quadristriatus 4G6 



Page. 



Culex, sp .......... , ...... 466 



Ephydra, sp ----- .......... 466 



